Sense and Sensibility 1995. Marianne carries roses and small white flowers.
In ancient times, brides carried bouquets of fragrant herbs and spices to ward off evil, or wore round garlands on their heads or around their necks as symbols of fertility and longevity. Dill, known as the herb of lust, would often be eaten by both the bride and groom. By the 18th century, bridal bouquets of herbs and flowers had come to symbolize delicateness, purity, and new life. (Sage meant wisdom and garlic goodness.)
Elinor's bouquet would have been made of locally grown flowers. Sense and Sensibility 1995.
Celtic bouquets would include greenery like ivy or thistle. Love knots made from rope or ribbons were tied inside the bouquets, a tradition that is still followed today. Edible flowers, such as pansies, would often be tucked in among the herbs. In Jane Austen’s era, brides would carry herbs, greenery, or flowers that were in season, and that could be picked alongside the road or from one’s garden. They included roses, peonies, sweet peas, scabious, lilies, and delphinium. New exotic flowers like dahlias, nerines and fuschia would also be included if they were locally grown. Only the very rich could afford hot house flowers out of season. Once picked, the herbs, flowers, and greenery would be made into a pleasing arrangement and bound by a ribbon.
Pride and Prejudice winter wedding. Would Lizzie have carried dried herbs or would Mr. Darcy have given her flowers from his hot house?
Decorations to suggest – baskets, urns and vases of flowers were all used during this time. The flowers would have been arranged informally with lots of different varieties and colours jumbled together in the same container. Flowers worn in the hair and as buttonholes became popular. Elaborate garlands and swags combining fruit, vegetables and grasses into the designs were used. Hang these around fireplaces, on walls and around windows. – Historically Themed Weddings
It was not until the Victorian times, that the all-flower bouquet became popular. Queen Victoria carried a bouquet of marigolds, which were edible. Small posies were also in vogue and remained so until the early 19th century.
Flowers also carried meanings in what was known as ‘the language of the flower.’ Roses meant love, freesia trust, ivy fidelity, violets hope, and ferns sincerity. Until modern times, the choices brides would make for their bouquets would be influenced more by symbolic meaning than by shape or color.
Other posts on the topic:
Jane Austen's World 
I love your web site and have been following it for a little while now.
I am a miniature doll artist and find the wealth of costume information on your blog invaluable.
Well done for such an amazing site.
Best wishes,
Louise
http://www.angeliqueminiatures.co.uk
Thanks, Louise! Your comment is most appreciated!
My daughter is planning her wedding and has considered some regency ideas. I’ll be sure to let her see this post!
Thanks for doing this. I get really excited when I get the notifications. I LOVE reading this blog!
Keep up the great work!
Karen
Hello! What a fun site. I am a huge Austen fan and have myself just published my first novel about the language of flowers come magically to life: Forget-Her-Nots (HarperCollins, 2010). It includes a guide to the language of flowers, and I often do tussie-mussie demonstrations at my book events.
Happy summer,
Amy (Brecount White)
In answer to the (rhetorical?) question of whether Mr Darcy would have given Elizabeth flowers from his hot-house, the answer would depend on where they were married – if from Longbourn, then it would be impossible to get them fresh all the way from Derbyshire in the December weather.
Thank you very much for a perennially fascinating website.
Andrew
With the mentions of edible flowers–were they to be eaten? Was there a particular reason that edible flowers were included? Or is the fact that they’re edible an aside, just an fyi?
Your site is fabulous. Your articles always fascinating, and helpful.
[…] This is a great site for Historical Romance authors, it’s probably one of my favourite sites to go if I’m procrastinating, but don’t want to admit it. This week Vic chats about The Regency Bridal Bouquet. […]
Beautiful! Thank you so much for this lovely article. I didn’t know that they also included herbs in the bouquet! Perhaps we should do that too nowadays?
Always so lovely!
Thank you for this lovely post. I’m getting married next may, and I’m (naturally..) doing a Regency theme. Keep it up!! :D
<3 Bethany.
So Lovely!
I sign to all this other link:
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/06/24/pride-and-prejudice-wedding-inspiration/
Great post and the top picture in the banner ( painting ) has something about it that creates the atmosphere of the regency period really well,amazing painting I love it
[…] The Regency Bridal Bouquet Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Jane Austen Society in Brazil (JASBRA)Men Reading Jane Austen: An UpdateTuesday Open Thread: Carnaval Edition […]